Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-08-19
OLD SMITHS ROMANO ID.

~ =
he was Familiarity called, had been
actually detected in the clandestine
acquaintance with q certain pretty
milllner girl in the town OF Filston5.
where the regiment was quartered.
the announcement was received partly
with amusement and partly with in
credulity.
Smith vas q quiet, retiring man.
perfectly harmless, very good natured,
the guide, philosopher and friend Of
youngsters, although he was made 8
butt by these same youngsters, on
account of his awkwardness and his
mysterious habits, and was univer
sally respected, as he had shown con.
spicuous gallantry among the zersbas
OF the Soudan. As he Was poor
man, and remained il the regiment
partly out Of sheer affection for the
service and partly because he was &C
an age when it is difficult to embark
upon a new course Of life, he mixed
but little in hegaities and hospitality
for which the Hopshire was famous,
spent his time principally among his
books, and, it was generally believed,
in adding to his professional income
by contributing to periodical litera-
ture. 5s4
The object OF old Smith s ntentions,
it was reported, was Grace Clough "a
pretty, modest, we'll behaved girl, who
occupied position in the millinery
establishment OF Ruche & Bustle, and
after whom the subs in the battalion
were raving, although not word had
ever been breathed that she had in the
slightest degree outstepped the bounds
of proprlety. or had upon any occa-
sion behaved herself otherwise than
modestly and becomingly OF these
smitten youngsters nope was more ar
dent in his professions of admiration,
and none could congratulate himself
upon having made a nearer approach
to conquest than the harum-scarum,
devil-may-care Honorable Bob Top
sham, eldest SON of Lord Cray, upon
whose authority the news of old
Smiths attachment had been spread
abroad.
At first the notion that old Smith
could have succeeded in cutting out
the handsome, titled young sub was
secuted as ridiculous, for Smith was
not exactly OF the age and appearance
to win the love of a girl at whose feet
a score Of eligible bachelors of good
position and qualifications were ready
to throw themselves. It was very
we'll known, too, that he was not in a
position to support q wife, and his
character stood too high for any one
to dare to breathe 8 hint that his in
tentions toward such q girl would
be anything but strictly honorable.
But Bob Topsham invited his
brother subs to see for themselves,
and arranged. that after mess one
evening they should accompany him
into the town, conceal themselves,
and keep watch on the premises OF
Ruche & Bustle at the hour when the
young ladies ofthat famous emporium
were liberated from their days servi-
tude. This they did, and they were
rewarded by seeing old Smith walking
up and down the street in the true
cavalier style, to be presently joined
by Oracle, who greeted him with cor
duality, and, putting her arm In his,
went off with him in the direction Of
the pleasant fields by which Filstone
is surrounded. - ES
The young gentlemen, with the ex-
ception OF Bob Topsham, regarded
the affair as an excellent joke, and re-
solved that old Smith should hear Of
it's discovery in divers pleasant ways;
but Bob Topsham took it very seri-
ously, for he was head over heels in
love with the girl, and up to q recent
date had good reason to believe that
his affection was reciprocated, and
that he held undivided possession Of
her heart. ~ - l11
OF course every one knew that be-
tween Bob Topshams and Oracle
Cough very intimate understanding
existed, but the young gentlemen had
already fallen in love half a dozen
times, and the idea was never enter
tanned for a moment that the prospec-
tive Lord Cray, the heir Of one of the
proudest noblemen in the country,
seriously meditated matrimonial
union with a provincial shop-girl; 80
that he was made the subject OF in
Vulnerable witticisms anent the new
rival who had suddenly appeared on
the field. The result was: that q cool
ness sprang up between him and old
Smith, though they mad hitherto been
on the best terms with each other,
and it became ve.Y evident.to the
only onlookers, who hailed with de.
light anything which promised to vary
the monotony Of barrack life ina
quiet old country town, that the al.
fair would soon assume q serious as
pect. IN A 9Th. #3 i.
The climax came in due course.
Bob Topsham had seen Grace, and the
following conversation had ensued be-
tween them: s,.35 & /. ".
II say, Oracle said the Honorable
Bob, II wish you d put me out Of my
misery and tell me plainly how mat.
ters stand between us You've said
scores OF times that you care more
for me than tor any other fellow. I've
sworn to you that / never could love
another girl, and yet I've found ont
that not only are you in the habit oi
meeting Smith Of ours, but that you
s. treat him Just like asfavored loverin
fact, you do, with him what you've
never done with me, you 90 out walks
with him, and i can help thinking
that you're playing q double game.
The girl seemed very much detected
at these accusations, and OF length
hesitatingly replied well, Bob. I'm
sorry you have such q poor opinion
OF me. I've told you that love yons
( and it is not likely that ] should say
& anoh a. h;,,r, J, !. = :, 4 hr 4 ma TINA IT